Act I | Little Shop of Horrors | Original Off-Broadway Production

[@LittleShopArchive]

Happy Little Shop day. :)

[@jonathanianthompson]

The Little Shop Archive :')

[@ArtistTheArtist05]

The Little Shop Archive this oh so happens to be my Bday as well!

[@eweezy3596]

What’s little shop day

[@dantemaritato]

@@eweezy3596 September 21, the day Audrey two arrived

[@christianmagoon5968]

Act I, and II | Little Shop of Horrors | Original Off-Broadway Production *************** CAST *************** Lee Wilkof............................Seymour Ellen Greene.......................Audrey Hy Anzell...........................Mr. Mushnik Jennifer Leigh Warren.............Crystal Sheila Kay Davis.......................Ronnette Marlene Danielle............................Chiffon Franc Luz............................Orin Scrivello / Everyone Else Martin P. Robinson..............................Derelict / Audrey II (Manipulation) Ron Taylor.................................Voice of Audrey II

[@scoopishere7881]

Fun Fact: The guy who designed the puppets here also voiced Telly Monster on Sesame Street. Things in the puppetry world are incredibly interconnected and you’ll see performers recurring in many different projects. Uma from Oobi and Kate Monster from Avenue Q are played by the same actress for example.

[@MaxEverywhereSystem]

and to tie it all together, the film adaptation was directed by frank oz, whos the original puppeteer of characters like miss piggy and cookie monster

[@FlyingV3rd]

​@@MaxEverywhereSystem and Grover and Fozxie Bear.

[@greenesmyfavcolor9742]

Even more fun fact, Ellen Greene dated the guy for a while and even got to be in an episode of Sesame Street briefly and got invited to their wrap party in 1986

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

That first customer spends the equivalent of approximately $819.98 US in today's spending money

[@tatumsteel6813]

Camara Rhodes im pretty sure you can do conversions based on inflation online.

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

@@FlyBoyMT I am refering to the setting within the story, 1960. Not the year it was performed.

[@MS-df2fk]

Her "Somewhere That's Green" was really touching.

[@sohoboy506]

Marsha was a fantastic Audrey replacement!! Loved her.

[@soulfur1031]

It's interesting to hear laughter at jokes that only made sense at this period of time

[@amilmyrick7323]

My favorite part of any history piece

[@RichBiev]

But the show takes place in the early 60s and was written in the early 80s.

[@BookshelfQBattler]

I've seen it produced in the 2020s and people still get the 60s humor. Occasionally, they sprinkle in some jokes about what the 60s look like to 2020s people.

[@miawhyte1789]

Time stamps?

[@franklesser5655]

I was lucky to see this production in the Fall of 1983. Such fun!

[@Tornado1994]

This is the '84 version. Ellen Greene toured the London Circuit during 1984-1985 and started Film pre production alongside Newly cast Rick Moranis.

[@quentinquale1694]

'84 version? It's the original version. The original run was 1982 - 1987. There was just one version during that time. Only "Mushnik And Son" changed during the run.

[@onnapnewo]

She also didn’t tour London with it, she was in the London production.

[@sohoboy506]

@@onnapnewo ever see any Audio or video from that production?

[@4dultw1thj0b]

Damn, the songs were really fast!

[@Joshua_Quinzel_Isley]

Well,that was part of Howard Ashman's Direction

[@bareabopopera3091]

AlwaysGonnaSing all the tempos on the cast album were slowed down

[@CoryAlphin]

I thought I was on 2X speed to start. Was totally surprised to see normal speed! LOL

[@goodmythicalmukbang3757]

Play it on .75 speed

[@SubToFGIGA]

yeah I know!

[@Daring2Win]

"I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me "gee, I'm not sure"" lol. This line kills me every time! I want to see this in its entirety so badly. This really should be made into a film!

[@pokemonlovers4907]

It is it just came out a few years

[@pokemonlovers4907]

In 1986

[@joshsauer4725]

@@pokemonlovers4907 “a few years ago”…😂

[@pokemonlovers4907]

I was joking

[@morganghostbusters-egonfan]

I just saw Little shop of horrors, the play, at my home state today. I loved every minute of it

[@kimlechman5856]

I gotta say, for the early 1980’s, the plant is impressive

[@tysargent9647]

After knowing the creative team behind the plant, it makes sense. For the off-Broadway production, Audrey II was designed, built and originally manipulated by Martin P. Robinson, a longtime puppeteer for Sesame Street and other Jim Henson productions, who would go on to design and operate the plant in the Broadway version two decades later. For this particular performance, the plant was puppeteered by Lynn Hippen, a core performer for the Nick Jr. series Eureeka's Castle (she played Cooey, Magellan the Dragon's gerbil/doglike pet).

[@hunterolaughlin]

@@tysargent9647 Very interesting that Martin P. Robinson designed and built the Audrey II puppets for both the original Off-Broadway show and the 2003 Broadway revival, although I already know this fact, because looking at this Audrey II puppet, it would really feel right at home in a Jim Henson production.

[@seymourkrelborn4780]

I hope we find a 1982 recording, Lee Wilkof and Ellen Greene are amazing

[@justanotherbohemian3827]

Oh hey Seymour...

[@robertlauncher]

Feed me

[@geraldinewoods254]

Hi Louis tolley

[@smurf902]

There's the cast album (audio)

[@egglady]

@@smurf902 Cast albums are recorded in a studio, totally different vibe from a live show. As you can see from this performance, the songs were much faster and more energetic in the actual show than they are on the cast album.

[@scootie_scoot]

17:44 this version of “ya never know” is one of my favorites! they all have such good chemistry and this seymour is really talented with giving the Audrey II character !! I love the choreography too !! aah such a good production

[@treesny]

Judt a reminder that the show actually originated at the WPA Theater in New York prior to its Off-Broadway run at the Orpheum on 2nd Avenue (where I saw it). A friend who saw it in the intimate space of the WPA said that the moment near the end when the vines dropped down over the audience was truly terrifying!

[@AdeBamforth]

Many of those people probably had no idea the plant would sing, or that he was a dentist.

[@BookshelfQBattler]

Longtime theater buff here. Been to a couple modern community theater productions of this. Whenever Orrin opens his leather jacket to reveal his dentist smock and sings, "Son be a dentist," it always brings down the house with laughter.

[@jivonleejackson1673]

The totally awesome production that begot the totally awesome film. Thank the universe for KZbin. Any & everybody has any & everything. In 1982 I was 3, to be able to see this ever is wonderful.

[@hannah_brooks]

HOLY HELL IVE BEEN WANTING TO FIND THIS FOR FOREVER

[@americanrtv5605]

xXHannahSalvatoreXx for years I was searching as well! I can't believe this is here!

[@TruthWarriorB88]

"Now! For the girl. Now! For the plant. Now! YES, I WILL! But I can't."

[@davidpacheco7124]

Love this show. Saw it 8 times Off Broadway back in the day 💕💕💕

[@MisterG2323]

Had to come back and enjoy this again. So nice to see a primo production after some of the many misfires I've caught over the last year of lockdown here on KZbin. I like the breakneck tempos, it move things right along, leaving more time, for instance, for Audrey to shine on "Somewhere That's Green." This show has great pace! And Audrey II, oh, my! Rockin'! Thanks again for posting this wonderful slice of history!

[@jellyjoe]

It's really surprising that people were able to sneak in cameras given the size of them in 1982 🤣🤣

[@jivonleejackson1673]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@quinnlee-miller9792]

It’s really sweet how Mushnick cares about Audrey; had he met Orrin, he would’ve beat the shit out of him for hitting Audrey. Or tried, I guess.

[@rokuwhitefox]

Thank you so much for this!

[@BuzzardPlanet97]

Lots of chuckles at the Mrs Shiva line, sounds like some people were familiar with the original 1960 movie

[@spyfieri]

or Jewish

[@hunterolaughlin]

And the first customer that inquired about Audrey II does remind me of that one customer played by Dick Miller, who would later play Murray Futterman in the Gremlins films, who would always eat the flowers he’d buy. Also the teenage girls visiting the shop in the original being the inspiration for Crystal, Ronette & Chiffon.

[@TechMomLR]

Oh my gosh! I saw this in L.A. in 1983 with my dad, at the Westwood Playhouse. So much fun!! Afterwards, we walked over to Tower Records to buy the cast album. ❤

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

I remember the TV ads for this i '82 when it first opened.

[@joshuacastelan1592]

Wow, i tought i would never see a recording of this production

[@christiantshibanda5089]

51:08 Audrey 2's touge is flying around!

[@evilrobotchris]

I've watched this three times now trying to get the bass parts down, and just finally read the description. I never realized that was Fyvush Finkel, super cool.

[@jonathanianthompson]

Awesome find

[@allyciphers492]

Jonathan Thompson I know you

[@jonathanianthompson]

Ally Ciphers I know you too :')

[@uri-official7549]

"and what kind of a place is that, hoooooooney" 22:05

[@reyb.7918]

I love Audrey, especially Ellen Geene’s interpretation, but I find this version especially precious 🥰

[@nokocchi1983]

marsha skaggs is really good as audrey!!

[@jippy6893]

y’all my school did a production of little Shop and Jesus Christ these songs are ridiculously fast

[@bareabopopera3091]

GoldenLion 5 the tempos on the original cast recording were slowed down from the original production, so that’s how people think it should go now, but it was supposed to be slower

[@caleb1413]

This is actually super good quality for a recording of the era!

[@crocopig]

And it’s a miracle someone snuck in one of those big ass 80s cameras 😭 howwwww did they not get caught

[@BradTea]

I would like to know how the person filming this snuck a large 1980s video camera in to the theatre and never got caught filming!

[@nextgentacos123]

Am I crazy if I think some of Audrey II’s body language is kinda cute? Like when he’s bouncing in the pot?

[@ValkyrieCain123]

Nah I've always found that adorable lol

[@justanotherbohemian3827]

9:54 though. The real Audrey is soo cute too

[@joshhoover2543]

Great find

[@bryantkeller9278]

The urchins are completely FAB.

[@megamike15]

i wish this was the seymour from the soundtrack of the off bradway show. he was my personally favorite.

[@jskhfsdkfnhskmdkfnhjksmmdf1269]

i fucking love thsi musical. im so hyperfixated.

[@coolguysandgalspicturestud148]

I saw Little Shop of Horrors at Van Intermediate School and it was very amazing.

[@Jos7h]

How? Incredible

[@AJ-cq5pw]

Kinda weird watching them laugh at her being abused by her boyfriend but different time I guess

[@Korenski23VO]

No it's still meant to be funny even today. It's called Dark Comedy. The point of which is to laugh at the ridiculous ills of humanity and society. Humans sometimes are more likely to look away when they see the horrors in this world, they ignore them because it's painful to see, but by telling those same stories with humor you can attract even those fearful audiences and the whole time they think they are being entertained. They are being entertained, but they are also being shown those horrible things they ignored before and being forced to acknowledge it in some way, even if it's not a big way. This is the beauty and truth that is art and theater. The fact that you feel it can't be funny today does show that the goal was achieved. Society today takes these things more seriously and I would suggest that is in large part due to the arts bringing these stories to our attention. Sometimes through drama, and more easily swallowed through comedy.

[@ketepunzelmank4701]

@@Korenski23VO Modern productions actually tend to dramatize "Scuse me, doctor". When I saw the 2019 revival they had perfect acting beats of when we should be laughing and when we shouldn't at Orin.

[@TheCommonGentry]

this is amazing. the mere existence of this recording is amazing. did the production house record this? cuz smuggling in a 1980s camcorder is a feat to behold..

[@caleb1413]

This seems to be audience recorded given that it lacks stability. A remarkable achievement for the time!

[@smurf902]

Marsha has a really beautiful voice and did a wonderful job for those of us that prefer Ellen. She's pretty close without being a total copy.

[@omgwth7567]

35 years past.

[@lennon4710]

MY GOD THANK YOU

[@kevinfishburne]

Best expression of the music online other than the film soundtrack. Well-executed. Thank you. :)

[@Korenski23VO]

I am so glad someone filmed this, however they are the worst camera person and that is unfortunate. Not even focussing on Audrey during her singing part. I guess back in the 80s they didn't film videos thinking one day everyone in the world will be able to watch this on KZbin lol ! What a time to be alive!

[@hunterolaughlin]

Ikr? Even I could film this much better than whoever was filming this.

[@Pinkiepiefan448]

I mean the alternative to not be able to see at all

[@emperorpalpatine1986]

”and several other medical problems” HAHAHAHAH

[@mygaffer]

How cool!

[@saidokurakutm3328]

40:40 are you sure that's Ron Taylor? He sounds a little bit different

[@saidokurakutm3328]

Or is this his understudy

[@LittleShopArchive]

+Saido Kuraku After comparing this to the original cast album, I think it's Ron

[@saidokurakutm3328]

The Little Shop Archive Oh ok

[@bustaload714]

If you look at the curtain call, the voice actor looks a little thin to be Ron

[@donnarosefletcher144]

It's not Ron. It's his vacation replacement Jimmy Lockett. Jimmy did a pretty good imitation of Ron but it's obviously not Ron in the curtain call. I was the assistant stage manager at this point in the run. Based on the original performance reports Jimmy covered all 8 performances from June 19-24. However the Puppeteer, clearly Lynn Hippen, was out for the 4 weekend shows to observe and note her new understudy. That means this recording had to be from the first half of the week. I think it was most likely on the 19th based on the late opening of the stage right screen for the finale, when a new sub was in for that backstage track.

[@spadinnerxylaphone2622]

I'm about to play the plant (puppeteer, not voice) and I'm trying to figure out what fits where

[@tysargent9647]

OK. Let's say you were puppeteering the third plant pod (the "Feed Me" plant). For the head of the plant, you basically have to curl your hands into fists, put them together, and then stretch and push them toward each other for the movement of the puppet's mouth (your right hand in the upper lip, your left hand in the bottom lip). The tricky part is being able to do it quickly enough to get a good lip-sync.

[@jedijones]

The dentist sounds a lot like BATB's Gaston here.

[@OptimusPhillip]

Was that... was that an _intestine?!_

[@liammckeeverphdrdn8469]

Please Please Please someone find a recording of the original cast with Ellen Green.

[@gaymenarepretty1015]

I know this comment is late late late but I really enjoyed the cast I thought I was a great first peformance

[@TheRedCapesClan]

Where's Ellen Green? :o

[@LittleShopArchive]

+Freakzilladark By this point, Ellen Greene had left the production and Marsha Skaggs had taken over the role.

[@jedijones]

@@LittleShopArchive Did anyone else besides these two ever play Audrey during the Off-Broadway run?

[@jedijones]

Apparently Ellen Greene moved to London to do the show when it opened there, which I think was on October 12, 1983. So she must've only played Audrey in the U.S. for less than 18 months of the show's 5-year run here. She also apparently left the London show at some point before June 1985 to start work on the movie and do other TV and movie parts.

[@Itstonytime77]

@@jedijones I think Faith Prince closed show off Broadway? I saw the archival video of the show which is a pro shot copy at Lincoln Center Theatre Archives and if I'm correct I believe Faith Prince is Audrey.

[@smurf902]

@@Itstonytime77 what's interesting is she did do the role, and was actually hired to do the role as the original before it opened, but she had to back out to do something else, and then they went with their 2nd choice, which was Ellen. Wow what a turn of events! Similarly, 3 different roles - Elphaba, The lead in Crazy for You and also Into the Woods had actresses that were originally cast but then left or were replaced as the opening cast and then later on still came back in the same original run. Stephanie Block - workshop/then later in the Bway run, Karen Ziemba in Crazy for you (written with her in mind but later replaced with Jodi Benson as the opening night and then replaced by Jodi), and Ellen Foley as the witch in Into the Woods (actually the original in the first workshop was Betty Buckley but Old Globe was Ellen) and then Bernadette came in for the Bway run but eventually Ellen did it on Bway as well.

[@christianmagoon5968]

Act I, and II | Little Shop of Horrors | Original Off-Broadway Production *************** CAST *************** Lee Wilkof............................Seymour Ellen Greene.......................Audrey Hy Anzell...........................Mr. Mushnik Jennifer Leigh Warren.............Crystal Sheila Kay Davis.......................Ronnette Marlene Danielle............................Chiffon Franc Luz............................Orin Scrivello / Everyone Else Martin P. Robinson..............................Derelict / Audrey II (Manipulation) Ron Taylor.................................Voice of Audrey II

[@perryjimenez5629]

I was reading the credits in the description, and I saw that you labeled Lynn Hippen as a Manipulator rather than a puppeteer? ouch, as a member of the puppeteering community we consider Audrey 2 as a puppet and anyone who does his physical performance is a puppeteer,

[@onnapnewo]

You should take that up with whoever put the original Playbill together, and decided to bill them as Audrey II (Manipulation) and Audrey II (Voice) in that order. Presumably Martin P. Robinson, legendary puppeteer, the creator of these Audrey IIs, and their original manipulator for this production, didn’t mind that credit.

[@DomDaBeast]

Is this Lee Wilkof as Seymour in this recording?

[@LittleShopArchive]

Brad Moranz

[@DomDaBeast]

@@LittleShopArchive thanks!

[@alyssahansen1400]

19:51

[@piluso500]

Why is it the long version of Mushnik and son?

[@LittleShopArchive]

At some point (I believe around the time the touring production started, though I don't know for sure), Howard and Alan reworked the number into the longer version we have now.

[@JAKECOT_CENTER]

There’s some distortion on the tape in the beginning

[@quentinquale1694]

This is a rare, old recording that would've been on VHS. Don't bitch about stupid things.

[@dantemaritato]

@@quentinquale1694 perfect reply

[@rachelcox6472]

Is this sped up? They sing so fast

[@mrcrapucinno]

why were the songs so fast?

[@castle3267]

Because breathing is for the week

[@imbreakingdown2683]

Audrey II NOT THIS YEAR PLEASE

[@peggyknecht5551]

Ellen Greene is such a great singer!

[@madgadgetss]

there must be a specific reason for *that* scene missing, right? i've checked so many plays already, come on!

[@tadhgknight3484]

What scene

[@madgadgetss]

_my fAv sCEne_ with fav character at the dentist before seymour gets there but i've found out why it's missing in the meantime, _it's not even in the stage version in general,_ only in the movies... sad times to become obsessed with something new and exciting

[@QuinManGuy]

@@madgadgetss oh the one with bill murray? Yeah. The movie and the Broadway productions are different in so many ways. Scenes taken out of the movie that were in the play, new songs in the movie along with new scenes, new ending

[@madgadgetss]

@@QuinManGuy so mean :( where do i find other media with this character dynamic? this is literally the only instance i've ever seen it, what do you even call it

[@QuinManGuy]

@@madgadgetss comedy

[@vicentehizon6202]

The songs are going to fast I can hardly keep up.

[@Baymax678-se5vt]

Likewow, i might have been in the audience right there.......taking a risk on a totally unknown show back then - but i loved Roger Corman so what did i have to lose? (and so easy to get AFFORDABLE tickets.....